Casing



Oct. 18, 1932. A. s. Fl'rz GERALD 1,883,663

CASING Filed Sept. 14, 1928 Inventor- ALcLn S. F'Ltz GerclLcL,

b5 i HLS Attorney.

Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE ALAN s. mz GERALD,

OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CASING Application Med September 14, 1928. Serial No. 308,082.

My invention relates to im rovements in casings for electroresponsive evices such as relays, meters and the like and more particularly to casings havino' the lead-in terminals mounted in the base thereof, and has for its principal ob'ect the provision of an improved base in which the terminals may be arranged to ada t the casing for universal use. Another o ject of my invention is to provide an improved casing of a form which permits the grouping of the devices on a switchboard in the mimmum amount of surface.

In the construction of casings for electroresponsive devices, it has hitherto been ditlicult to provide for extra terminals or a rearrangement of the terminals already provided. This is objectionable since it is oftendesira-ble to use one type of casing for several different devices requlring diiierent numbers oi terminals and various arrangements thereof. In accordance with my invention, this objection is overcome by an improved construction of the base for such casings whereb a number of terminal openings are provide to give the necessary scope for arranging the terminals to meet the requirements of several dierent typs of devices.

y invention will be better understood from the following description when considand 5, and a cover 6. Th

ered in connection with the drawing and its scope will be the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a casing embodying my 1nvention and Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a part of the base of the casing shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 a casing 1 is shown mounted on a switchboard panel 2. The casing 1 includes a base 3, comprising telescoping members 4 e supporting members 7 and 8 'are attached to the member 5 and serve to support a relay or other device and to hold the cover 6 to the base 3 by means of a fastening device 9.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the base 3 illustrating a portion of the telescoping members 4 and 5 and one of the terminals 10. The member 4 is attached to the board 2 by means of bolts 11 and the member 5 is attached to accompanying polnted out 1n its cooperating member 4 by suitable means such as bolts 12. Washers 26 may be used between members 4 and 5 under the heads of bolts 12 in order to prevent the distortion of either or both members 4 and 5. These washers may be used under each of the bolts 12 but it is preferable to use them only with the four corner bolts nearest the brackets 8. The terminal 10 is provided With a flanged insulating collar 13, which fits into registering holes 14 and 15 provided in the members 4 and y5 respectively. The flange 16 on the collar 13 projects beyond the periphery of collar 13` and is rigidly supported between the members 4 and 5. In the illustrated embodiment of my invention the members 4 and 5 are provided with sixteen pairs of registering holes 14 and 15 to accommodate terminals. Since that many terminals are seldom needed by any one device, filler pieces 17 having the same outward shape as insulating collars 13 may be used to fill the remaining holes and the terminals may be arranged in an manner desired. It may also be desirable in some cases partially to punch out the holes 14 and 15 during manufacture, leaving the material therein to be easily removed 4when the holes are needed. Packing Washers 18 and 19 of yielding material such as cork may be used to prevent cracking the insulating flange 16 when the bolts 12 are tightened.

The edges of members 4 and 5 which are preferably made of sheet metal, are turned up at substantially right angles to the body of the members and are telescoped. The dimensions of the members 4 and 5 are such that suflcient space is provided between the upturned edges, or ilanges,that the edge of the cover may be inserted. In this manner the member 5 is allowed to project above the edge of the flange on member 4 so as to act as a guide for the cover 6. The bottom of the slot, formed by the ianges on members 4 and 5 provides a seat for the cover 6. This slot is preferably relatively deep and a gasket 20 of suitable material such as felt is secured to the bottom of it, whereby a dust tight casing is insured. The member 4 may be upset or dished, as indicated at 2l, so that it may Aset flush with the board 2 and still rovide l the enclosed device may be seen. This face v 22 is mounted in the cover` by providin through flanges 23 upon which the glass 22 rests, an a rim 24 which fits over the edge of the cover and is flanged to hold the face 22 against the flanges 23. The rim 24 is fastened to the cover 6 by bolts 25.

While I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail, I do not desire to be limited to the exact arrangements shown, but seek to cover in the a pended claims all those modifications that fa lwithin the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The casing for electrical devices includin a base and cover, said base including two te escoping members provided with registerino' openings, terminals provided with insulatng collars and arranged to project said openings and means for securing said members together whereby rigidly to support said terminals within said openings.

2. A casing for electrical devicesincluding a base and cover, said base including two telescoping members provided with registerino' openings, terminals provided with insuIating collars and arranged to project through said o enings, and a flange on said collar'arrange to be clamped between said telescoping members.

3. In a casing for electrical devices, a plurality of terminals, a base including two spaced members, a cover, means for insulatino` and supporting said terminals within -said base arranged to be supported between said members, and means Within said base for allowmg different arrangements 1n the D location of said terminals.l

4. A casing comprising a cover and two flanged telescoping base members shaped to guide said cover between the flanges of said members and to form a seat for said cover.

5. A casing including a cover and two `flanged telescoping base members shaped to provide a seat for said cover, one of said members projecting above the other to provide a guide for said cover whereby readily to seat the cover.

In witness whereof, I have hereuntol set my hand this 13th day of September 1928. ALAN S. FITZ GERALD. 

